Operation Freedom Paws

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Operation Freedom Paws

Operation Freedom Paws empowers veterans and others with disabilities to live a quality life.

The program shall consist of but not be limited to the following services:
* provide service dogs to veterans and others with disabilities.
* assist veterans and others with disabilities to train their own service dogs
* obtain appropriate dogs from various sources including but not limited to shelters, rescue groups, and dog breeders provide ongoing support for veterans and others with disabiliti

es and their service dogs
* create a training facility and kennel.
* educate and raise awareness in the public and private sector about disabled individuals and service dog team partnerships.

29/08/2024

🎳 Have you signed up to join us for OFP's 6th Annual Bowling Event on 9/21 at Morgan Hill Bowl yet? This is a proud tradition that started with our friends at California Bowling Writers (CBW) and our Tournament Manager, Donna Morales. Bowl for fun or compete in a USBC Tournament for prizes! Check out all the details and some great sponsorship opportunities here: https://ofpbowling24.givesmart.com.

If you're interested in helping us raise funds through silent auction or drawing donations, please reach out to us: @operationfreedompaws.org. It's going to be a special day since 9/21 is also our 13th non-profit anniversary!!🎉 Come roll with us and help save lives at both ends of the leash.

28/08/2024

Wordless Wednesday

27/08/2024

Tuesday Triumphs! We love seeing our clients and their service dogs mirror each other’s peace and tranquility during puppy yoga. What might seem like a simple act is actually a powerful commitment to staying grounded and present. This mindful practice deepens their bond and is also a valuable tool in the skillset our clients are developing in the program to navigate a new normal with their service dogs.

What triumph can we celebrate with YOU in this moment? 🌟💖

26/08/2024

On this Women’s Equality Day, we proudly honor the women in our world and extend our deepest gratitude to those who have served and sacrificed for our country and communities.

Women's Equality Day is celebrated today in the U.S. The 19th Amendment became part of the Constitution on this day in 1920, guaranteeing women the right to vote. Nine years earlier, in a statewide referendum, California voted in favor of recognizing a woman’s right to vote.

📷 The photo shows a 1917 parade in New York City supporting women's suffrage.

26/08/2024

! 🎉🐾

Today, as we celebrate all dogs, we also want to shine a light on the dogs who play an essential role in our mission at Operation Freedom Paws. These remarkable dogs are crucial in empowering our clients to take charge of their lives and reclaim hope, freedom, and mobility.

Here’s to honoring the incredible impact dogs have on transforming lives and making a difference every single day.

26/08/2024

Mentoring Monday: A client emailed us this weekend to let us know she got engaged. We are SO excited for her! It was also a reminder that OFP remains part of many clients’ lives long after they complete the service dog program. Starting and changing careers or relationships, achieving goals, becoming parents—-all are directly related to how clients learned to partner with their dogs. Success in managing their medical issues led to success in life. The dogs’ alerts allowed them to focus on something other than the debilitating physical and psychological episodes that totally controlled them when they applied to OFP. That early warning system at the end of the leash replaced fear with safety, anxiety with control, and distrust with love. Thanks to our donors, these clients have created their new normal. We are proud that our OFP Family is part of their support system, and their lives.❤️

23/08/2024

Friday Funny!

22/08/2024

Thursday Thank You! We have so many AMAZING in-kind donors to thank for helping to set the stage and bring entertainment, decor, and wonderful auction items to Operation Freedom Paws 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala! The vital funds raised that evening would not have been possible without their generosity and passion for our mission. Each and every one of them deserve to be recognized, please join us in thanking them!

Businesses, Organizations and Artists:
Chicago The Band - Brett Steinberg and Beau Loendorf, San Francisco 49ers, The Soft Lights, Next Level Sound Studio, Somewhere Beyond Vacations , Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, Total Wine & More, Wyrick Real Estate Group, Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Rocca's Market, Touchstone Golf Foundation, Monterey Touring Vehicles, Safari West, San Francisco Giants, Chardonnay Sailing Charters, San Jose Jazz Summerfest, Dream Inn Santa Cruz, Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, Le Pooch Grooming & Boutique, Thaiyurveda Spa, Steinbeck House Restaurant, Chama Nativa Brazilian Steakhouse, Granada Theatre Morgan Hill, Kane & Ruby, Tenfiveone Cider Co, Lula's Chocolates, Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast, Starbucks Tennant Station Morgan Hill, Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen Beachside,BarkBox, Martinelli's and Gordon Biersch Brew Co.

Individual Donors:
George Kittle NFL and Claire Kittle, The Kittle Family, Jona Denz-Hamilton, Mark Turner, Susan Sickal, Kaye Feskanin, Chris Beltz, Sabino Gonzalez, The Kittle Family, Nicola Balmain, Dom Balmain, Tara and Cesar Lopez, Matt Barlietti, Travis Runnels, Phyllis Pierce, Nancy Lawson Beech, Alex Larson, Cathie Young, Andres Rivera, Diane Goldman, Bridgett Orcutt, John and Catherine Kauer - Touchstone Crystal Independent Consultant, Alan Chan, Stephanie Fontana.

Decor:
Heidi Golden and Morgan Hill Grange
Paige Rivera
Amy Osako-Aochi and Michi's Floral Company Morgan Hill
Stuart Event Rentals (also our Bar Sponsor!)

20/08/2024

Tuesday Triumphs! Public training excursions are essential for preparing our clients and their service dogs to manage the complexities of everyday life together. These outings de-sensitize service dogs to various noises, crowds, and distractions, teaching them to remain focused on their handlers.

This training requires consistent communication, patience, and practice from both the handler and the service dog. Through dedicated effort, service dogs learn to stay attentive and supportive, ensuring they're fully prepared to support their handlers in various real-world scenarios.

By participating in this training, service dogs play a vital role in helping veterans, first responders, children, and other individuals with disabilities lead more enriched and independent lives within their communities.

What is enriching your life today? Please share it with us, part of training is good listening!

19/08/2024

Mentoring Monday: Today's tip is about the difference between "leadership" and "dominance". Some trainers teach that it's important to get dominance over your dog so it behaves--being the "alpha" in the pack. But dominance typically includes an element of fear that we believe is not necessary or good in your relationship with your dog. It's like working for that boss that you don't dare question because you could be disciplined or even fired if you don't just go along with whatever s/he says. Instead, we try to teach our handlers to be the leader at the end of the leash. We follow a good leader because s/he can be trusted---because we can ask questions and make suggestions without fearing the consequences. If your trained service dog isn't doing exactly what you've told her to do, she may be suggesting that there's something you haven't addressed. It could be anxiety, blood sugar, pain...whatever she's been trained to alert you to, or even something she's figured out on her own that may impact your mental or physical health now, or even in several hours. The worst thing you can do is correct or punish your dog for alerting you, because he might be trying to tell you about a rattlesnake under the porch, smoke in the kitchen, or a stranger in your yard. So develop your leadership skills with your dog, and become a good team partner!

17/08/2024

Friday Funny

16/08/2024

Thursday Thank You! We're incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of our fundraising efforts for the Operation Freedom Paws 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala!

Today, we're recognizing the wineries and vineyards who made "the wine" in our wine gala possible. These amazing supporters either donated wines to help us raise funds in our live and silent auctions and/or donated wines that could be poured at the event to help us offset costs and create a great wine tasting experience for our gala goers.

We know how incredibly hard these wineries and vineyards work from the vine to the glass to bring their beautiful wines to the public and we're incredibly honored by their donations. Please join us in raising a glass to these mission-minded wineries and vineyards for helping to make more life-saving service dog teams possible!

🍷J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Sarah's Vineyard, MOHI Ranch, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Fernwood Cellars Winery, Byington Vineyard and Winery, Alban Vineyards, Guglielmo Winery, Le Petit Frere Wines, Satori Cellars, Solis Winery, Fortino Winery, J Winston Winery, La Vie Dansante Wines, Lightpost Winery, Lion Ranch Vineyards & Winery, Tank House Winery, Cinnabar Winery, Besson Family Vineyard, Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards, Gali Vineyards, Vereschagin Wines, Miramar Vineyards, Scheid Vineyards and Kirigin Cellars.🍷

14/08/2024

Wordless Wednesday

13/08/2024

Tuesday Triumphs! We love witnessing the deep communication and trust that grows between our clients and their service dogs with each training class. This evolving bond lays the foundation for the teamwork that empowers our clients to create and define their future on their own terms. That’s a true triumph!

What’s a triumph you’re celebrating today? Share it with us, we really want to hear from you! 💕🌟

12/08/2024

Mentoring Monday: Dogs are very attuned to changes in our environment. I remember a morning class that began just before a partial solar eclipse. Every dog there was extremely agitated, and all the handlers were frustrated. Once the eclipse was over, the dogs settled down to work. A dog will never behave the same in group training as it does at home or out in public, but OFP’s training is designed with a lot of repetition. This creates habits in both dog & handler so they communicate clearly no matter the location, and can navigate every situation safely together. If the dog is focused elsewhere or won’t do something he knows how to do, it’s the handler’s job to pay attention & take action as needed. There could be a dog approaching, an impending change in the handler’s medical condition, a thunderstorm brewing, or even an eclipse starting. Trust your dog!

10/08/2024

Friday Funny! Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend everyone!

08/08/2024

It's a beautiful thing when our clients who have graduated from the program come back for a visit. We love these reunions! Great to see Steven, his family, and his service dog Duke. They even joined us for a class to reinforce their training skills. Such a joy to have them here, you will always be a part of our family!❤

07/08/2024

Tuesday Triumphs! Everyone who supported us at the Operation Freedom Paws 13th Annual Wine Gala on Saturday! Your generosity allowed us to match a $50K donation during the "Raise the Paddle" auction alone! This support is critical, as it costs $25K to welcome each service dog team and their family into our program.

Big shoutout to our amazing hosts, Mark Turner - Mayor of Morgan Hill and Jona Denz-Hamilton, who have made the perfect team to host our wine gala for over a decade. Mark is also our fantastic auctioneer. We’re so grateful for everything they both bring to this event!

In an evening blessed with triumphs, the biggest triumph was seeing our clients and their families bravely share their stories and come together with Mary on stage with their service dogs. It was a powerful reminder of what they've work so hard to accomplish and the impact of our supporters. It's a moment we’ll never forget.

We'd love to hear about your triumphs too! Share them with us in the comments!

05/08/2024

Mentoring Monday: Jenny & I reached a major goal on Saturday. When we started training together March 21st, I wanted her to be vested and well-behaved in public in time for our August 3rd Wine Gala. When she was repeatedly doing uncontrollable puppy parkour in the middle of class, I decided this goal was completely unrealistic. But we continued to work on the basics, focusing on routine & hold times, with lots of praise.

Little by little I could see her start to put things together. Mary made an equipment change; what had worked perfectly with my last two dogs was not working for Jenny. Suddenly I had her full attention, so we practiced in public several times, and I realized we might actually be ready! I still keep interactions with other people to a minimum so she doesn’t get distracted, but at the end of the night I HAD to let her greet & get a photo with my friend Jona Denz-Hamilton because it’s our tradition. Earlier, Jenny held her sit in front of the room with all these other service dogs in close proximity for 10 minutes!!

I am really proud of what we’ve accomplished in the past 4 months. Baby steps, one tiny step at a time, have gotten results. It’s how we teach because it works, for dogs AND humans.

03/08/2024

Our OFP Fundraising Champions are in the final hours of their efforts leading up to our 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala tomorrow night!

If you’d like to support these amazing veterans, first responders, and dedicated supporters, please click on the link below and scroll down to the OFP Champion Fundraisers section to make a tax-deductible donation. Your contribution supports our mission and honors K9 Maxo. Thank you OFP community!
https://pawswithpats24.givesmart.com

02/08/2024

🇺🇸 Out Thursday Thank You. Today, our veteran clients and staff came together to retire our flag that has proudly flown over us and raise a new one. This powerful symbol of our freedoms renews our commitment and reminds us of the people we strive to serve every day.

We honor the journey that has brought us here and the shared mission that drives us forward. What is lifting your spirits today? We’d love to hear it—share with us! 🌟

01/08/2024

In just two days, we’ll be rolling out the red carpet for our 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala at OFP! 🥂✨

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible returning dinner sponsor, Golden Bear Provisions. Your generous support not only helps us offset costs but also enables us to raise crucial funds for our program resources, thank you! 🌟🐾

We couldn't do it without you! Here’s to making this event a memorable one and making a lasting impact together.

Golden Bear Provisions provides the finest delicatessen and specialty products to Northern California. Our customers include a wide range of retailers and food service operators. We serve family-owned specialty markets, multi-location supermarkets, delis, cafes, upscale restaurants, hotels, caterers and more. As a local Boar's Head Purveyor, we provide everything from high-end deli meats, artisan cheeses, premium charcuterie and condiments.

01/08/2024

We can’t wait for Saturday to welcome our guests and sponsors to Operation Freedom Paws 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala! 🍷 With over 26 amazing wineries participating, it's going to be an unforgettable evening!

We’ve been sharing some of the incredible items you’ll be able to bid on at the event, and here are a few more sneak peeks!

🌟 Somewhere Beyond Vacations & Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel: Disneyland experience & 2-night stay
🏖️ Beach escapes to Aptos and Dream Inn Santa Cruz
🏔️ Mountain getaways to Lake Tahoe & Blue Lake
🌆 Urban adventure in Seattle with spectacular view of the Space Needle
🚂 All Aboard the Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast
🍷 VIP Wine Tastings & Tours
⛳ Touchstone Golf Foundation: Foursome at 4 signature courses
🏈Golden State Warriors tickets & a 49ers fan must have - a signed jersey by 5x Pro Bowler George Kittle!!

We’re gearing up for a fantastic night that will raise hope and funds to create more life-saving service dog teams! 🌟 If you’d like to join us and possibly take home one of these amazing auction items, click here to book! https://pawswithpats24.givesmart.com

A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors, OFP Champions, in-kind donors, and wineries for making this event possible!

30/07/2024

Our OFP Champion Fundraisers are in their final week of fundraising leading up to our wine gala on Saturday. World Gone Good has been with us since we launched this initiative in 2021. They are just $111 shy of their fundraising goal, can we help get them across the finish line in support of our mission? Thank you World Gone Good for the good you continue to share and do in our communities.

https://e.givesmart.com/events/D1k/c/:IqsWrIJoGf4

At age 18, veteran Carlos Vera enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served for six years. In 1992, he deployed to Somalia, Operation Restore Hope, and was among…

30/07/2024

We want to recognize our Red Wine Sponsors for the OFP 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala: Ravenox, Morgan Hill Life, and Gilroy Life. Their amazing support of our mission has been invaluable. Morgan Hill Life and Gilroy Life continue to amplify our events and mission, while Ravenox provides critical resources through their line of quality leather products that give back to OFP.

A heartfelt thank you to all of them for championing our mission throughout the year! Here are a few words they wanted to share with the OFP community.

Life Media Group is a proud sponsor of Operation Freedom Paws and its service to local veterans and their canine pals. We publish Morgan Hill Life and Gilroy Life newspapers and we have long encouraged the residents of the South Valley region to support this wonderful nonprofit organization in their endeavors to bring relief to those who have protected our freedoms by serving in the armed forces.

Ravenox has its roots in service. Master Gunnery Sergeant and OFP Ambassador, Sean Brownlee, founded the company in 2012 and strives to provide jobs to veterans. His experience in the U.S. Marine Corps with rope has allowed him to grow a company built on a foundation of strong ideals that give back to his country-- providing American-made cordage products that he grew to know well during his service.

29/07/2024

Mentoring Monday: We humans constantly underestimate the intelligence of other animals. Of course, some dogs are smarter than others. Some learn faster, and they have different interests and innate abilities——just like us! “My dog gets tired on walks” could mean the dog is bored. Is the handler mixing it up, presenting new behaviors, talking on the phone? Maybe you’d be bored, too, at the end of that leash. “My dog runs around inside, jumping on furniture.” Have you provided structure, routine and boundaries for him, so he knows your rules, or do you chase him and yell? In his mind, this is the game he initiates, and that you play with him. “My dog won’t eat his food.” If your veterinarian has eliminated illness or allergies and your dog isn’t losing weight, what other food does he have access to? True stories: Is someone else in the house feeding him table scraps? Is he eating the chickens’ feed? “Is my dog smart enough to understand this?” Very likely—-they’ve had thousands of years of practice outsmarting us!

28/07/2024

We are just one week away from Operation Freedom Paws 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala on Saturday, August 3rd! A special shout out to our Double Magnum Sponsor, Star One Credit Union. It's going to be a great evening hosted by the Mayor of Morgan Hill Mark Turner and Radio Hall of Fame Nominee Jona Denz-Hamilton. Plus guests will enjoy wonderful live music with The Soft Lights!

We're grateful for all the amazing participating wineries, sponsors, and in-kind donors that are making this night possible!

Up for Auction!
A Safari West Family Adventure,
Touchstone Golf Foundation 4 Course Package,
Five Star Spa at Pebble Beach Beauty Day
San Francisco 49ers Kick Off Kids Experience and photo op with 3x Pro-Bowler George Kittle
MOHI Ranch Farm to Fire 4-course winemaker dinner for up to 20 people!
VIP Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago Concert Experience.

There's still time to join us for this very special night to raise hope and raise funds for lifesaving service dog teams! Click the link to see all the event details and book: https://pawswithpats24.givesmart.com

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Our OFP Fundraising Champions, like K9 Niko, have been getting really creative with their fundraising efforts leading up to our 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala on August 3rd! We really hope you'll join us, there's still time, but tickets are selling out fast. If you're unable to attend but wish to make a donation to support our biggest fundraiser of the year, this is a great way to do it! You can see all our amazing champions on our event platform; many are veterans and first responders themselves. They're dedicated to fundraising for our mission, but they need your help! It only takes a few minutes to donate and make a life-changing impact. Thank you OFP community for your invaluable support!🙏🙏🙏 OFP 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala Platform (scroll down to the OFP Champion Fundraisers to help them meet their goal: https://pawswithpats24.givesmart.com

Mary always speaks from the heart. Here's her acceptance speech for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce "2024 Nonprofit of the Year".

This New Year's Eve, we're sharing one final heartfelt message to you all from our founder and executive director Mary Cortani for 2023. We hope you'll take a few minutes to watch before welcoming in 2024. ➡️Online Giving Platform: (quick, easy, and highly secure) https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com ➡️Mobile Donations: text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

Day 9 of OFP's 10 Days of Giving: These are the final hours of giving in 2023! Today you can make one donation that helps transform two lives and heals families - like our client CJ. Earlier this week we shared a preview of CJ and Rosco's (a pup at risk of being euthanized) inspirational story. If you haven't had a chance to see the full video, here it is. It only takes a few minutes to watch and understand the life changing impact your donations make. Thank you to CJ's family for sharing their story and for their commitment to his healing journey in the program. Please share this post and consider a donation today. If we all do what we can to help, we can empower more healing journeys like CJ's together.❤️‍🩹 ➡️Online Giving Platform: (quick, easy, and highly secure) https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com ➡️Mobile Donations: text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

Day 7 of OFP's 10 Days of Holiday Giving: After suffering the loss of his first service dog, Zane, Angel didn't know how to continue his healing journey without him. Zane had been his right hand, his six o'clock, helping him to manage the invisible wounds of military service. Until he reached out to Mary for help and she made an introduction she knew he needed. Our journey with our clients isn't for a season, it's for a lifetime. That would not be possible without your year-end tax-deduction donations. Every healing journey taken starts with your giving - that's why it's so crucial. Will you help another veteran start their healing journey in the New Year? CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANGEL'S FULL STORY and to donate. Every $1 donated helps to save 2 lives and heal families. Thank you to our client Angel for bravely sharing his story. https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com Mobile Donations: text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

Over the past two years, Cristiano suffered 45 major seizures, then he was paired with Rosco. A mother shares the journey to give her son a bright future and her family a peace of mind they'd never known before. You can preview Cristiano's story here, then join our giving platform to see the full video. It only takes a few minutes to watch this incredibly inspiring story that moved us all to good tears. CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL VIDEO: https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com ➡️Mobile Donations: Text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

Thursday Thank You: San Francisco 49ers Tight End George Kittle was recently honored with the "Perry/Yonamine Unity Award." This award recognizes the player who most unifies the team to make a positive impact on and off the field. George is also up for the NFL "Salute to Service" Award (vote open through November 30th https://www.nfl.com/causes/salute/nominees/2023/vote) In recognition of his contributions, George was able to choose a nonprofit to receive a donation - he chose Operation Freedom Paws! Watch this video to see the presentation of this beautiful legacy award and the generous gift OFP received to help veterans, first responders children. and other individuals transform their lives with a service dog. On behalf of our clients, thank you to George Kittle, the Kittle family, and the 49ers for all you do for OFP! #georgekittle #49ers #operationfreedompaws #hiddenpearlspodcast #gratitude #empoweringourmission

What a great time we had on Sunday celebrating the honorees at "Sip & Celebrate" hosted by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce. The honorees are such inspiring individuals and organizations. More to come on this beautiful event. But first, we wanted to share Mary Cortani's "Woman of the Year" video that was played for those in attendance with you all. We hope you'll take a few minutes to watch, we love when we can share a message directly from Mary with our community. Thank you Alan Chan for shooting the interview, Vicki Topaz and Alan Chan for the photos, Scott MacDougall for the edit, and a special thank you to Mary for her time.

What it meant to our veteran client, Carlos, to be welcomed into Operation Freedom Paws' program and meet his service dog, Ruthie. Your donations bring new hope in the new year through a new human-canine relationship that transforms lives at both ends of the leash. Thank you to documentary filmmaker, Vicki Topaz. OFP "End-of-Year" Giving Platform: https://ofpendofyear22.givesmart.com Mobile donations: text ofpendofyear2022 to 76278

Thank you to NBC Bay Area anchors Raj Mathai, Janelle Wang, and reporter, Christine Ni, for their coverage of Mary Cortani as the 49ers "Frontline Hero of the Game." They did a great job of sharing her military service and Operation Freedom Paws' mission. Our team was stopped on the way into the Levi stadium Sunday night by a group who saw the story and thanked us for the work we do. Thank you NBC Bay Area for helping us to reach more of our community, especially those we hope to give a hand-up with the resources they deserve to regain their independence and thrive.

It's not easy to surprise Mary but the San Francisco 49ers and U.S. Bank did it!! Here is the moment when she was presented with a 20,000 donation on the field to fund a new Veteran service dog team. We were are all so moved and thrilled by it! Deepest thanks to the 49ers and U.S. Bank for this incredible gift! And thank you to our client, Army Veteran Morfett and his service dog Loki, for joining Mary on the field.

Saturday Spotlight: We're excited to see all of you who are joining us for the 11th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala on August 6th, it's going to be a special night! And thank you to everyone who has donated so far to our biggest fundraising event of the year. A special shout out to our OFP Champion Fundraisers who have been getting really creative! Check out how Team K9 King Frances (working dog trainer) has professionally wrapped their entire van in our logo, complete with a QR code on the side that can be scanned to donate! Just amazing!! You can go onto our event platform to see all of our awesome OFP Champions Fundraisers from across the country and support their fundraising efforts. We are close to welcoming our 500th client and their family into the program, let's do this! Click here to support a champion fundraiser, get all the event details and purchase gala tickets, we're booking up fast! https://pawswithpats22.givesmart.com

Mentoring Monday: “Always end on a positive” is one of Mary’s frequent reminders. Whenever you’re working on a new behavior with your dog, celebrate when you’ve made even a little bit of progress. For example, if you’re trying to teach your dog to sit and his butt hits the ground for a split-second, praise, take that win and then go back to walking. Don’t expect him to immediately sit and hold the position for 5 minutes. But don’t let him get away with not sitting at all, or you’ll find it that much harder to get that “sit” next time. For the dog, it’s about respecting and wanting to please you as well as understanding what you want. Some dogs’ faces are like open books when they’re trying hard to learn something new---you can almost see their brain cells processing. Other dogs show tension in their bodies, such as stiff shoulders and tails when they’re not sure what’s being asked of them. By structuring your lesson so you’re asking him to do something that is just a small step up from something he already knows, you’re setting him up to succeed. If it’s a bad day (and we all have them) take a couple of deep breaths, regroup, reduce your expectations to something you absolutely know your dog can do, and focus on that. If you don’t add anything new that session, that’s okay! It’s more important to build your bond and communication than to have obedience and a flawed relationship. By always ending on a positive, you increase your dog’s confidence, and your own as the handler. HINT: this approach can work well with people, too!! Watch this short video as Mary works with Teddy to help him overcome his reaction to the Halloween cats. She lets him work at his own pace, but keeps using her praise voice and treats.

We want express our gratitude to seven amazing K9 teams who are in a bit of a friendly competition to raise funds for OFP service dog teams in honor of our 10 year non-profit anniversary this month! You can follow their creative fundraising efforts in our Instagram stories @opfreedompaws. Thank you to our K9 Teams, Ed & K9 Duke (organizer), John & K9 Tabitha, Travis & K9 Pako, Richard & K9 Kylo, Chris & K9 Kleio, Treavor & K9 King Frances and Steve & K9 Dragon!🙌 These guys have really stepped in a big way for our clients. Check out this awesome trailer compliments of Team Travis & K9 Pako!🎬⭐️👏 You can go onto our event website to check out and donate to their individual champion fundraising pages and to see and support all of our incredible fundraising champions! You are all amazing!🤩❤️🙏 https://pawswithpats.givesmart.com

And the Home Depot Nexgrill 4-burner BBQ and professional BBQ Kit designed by Chef Bear goes to.... Big Congratulations!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

The wheel has spoken! The recipient of the BMX 52 Qt. Igloo Cooler is.... Big Congratulations!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Thursday Thank you and updates

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Tuesday Triumph

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